Gas meter prover apparatus



Filed Sept. 11, 1948 P. R. WATSON GAS METER PROVER APPARATUS /Jf f 21d7)/ 70 r7/ (4 n n 67 t .1 7 66 27 6o Juf f LA f [es l :Us 65! /0 /75 f l'f/fc H WHL- f/ avana FIG. 8

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9

INVENTOR Pm LIP R. WATSON ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 GAS METERPROVER APPARATUS Philip R. Watson, Valley Park, Mo., assignor toElectronic Tester of Gas Meters, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application September 11, 1948, Serial No. 48,851

6 Claims.

This invention relates to gas meter prover apparatus of the type adaptedfor use in testing the accuracy of movement and registration of theregistering means of gas meters by passing through the gas meters beingtested accurately measured volumes of air, or other fluid, thepredominant object of the invention being to provide an improvedapparatus of this type which is relatively simple in construction andoperation, and is so completely automatic in its operation that theopportunity for human error to effect the gas meter testing operationsis reduced to a minimum.

Commercial gas meters of various types having bellows displacement meansfor determination of the volume of gas passed through the meters, andprovided with geared indexing means for registering said volume of gaspassed through the meters, have heretofore been tested for accuracy bypassing through the meters accurately measured volumes of air fromaccurately calibrated air tanks or prover bells connected to the metersand controlled manually. In making this type of test, the operatorobserved the movement of the prover index hand with respect to the meterprover dial while passing an amount of air through the meter that wouldcause the prover index hand to make one revolution, which was equivalentto the registration of passage through the meter of two cubic feet ofair. The accuracy of such a test was dependent on the keenness of theeye of the operator making the test, and his coordination of eye andhand, inasmuch as the flow of air to the meter was shut off manually bythe operator when the index hand of the meter had made a completerevolution, as nearly as could be judged by the eye, and the actualvolume passed through the meter was determined by the shrinkage involume of the air in the air tank or prover bell. If the test indicatedthat the volume of air passed through the meter was more or less thanexactly two cubic feet, the meter was registered as either fast or slowand proper adjustments were made of its mechanism to bring it toaccuracy, the test being repeated until the meter registered accurately.

The testing operation briey described above was subject to a number ofpossibilities of error, and the prime purpose of this invention is toprovide a simple and improved testing apparatus f in the use andoperation of which these possibilities of error are eliminated. Brieflystated, the starting and stopping of the gas meter prover of the presentinvention is controlled automatically through the operation ofelectrical means which includes switching mechanism that controls flowof electrical current that operates electrical means which opens andcloses valve means when exactly the predetermined volume of air to beused in the test has been passed from the lil) bell of the prover, toand through the meter under test. The apparatus of the present inventiondiffers in its operation from the manual meter `testing method describedabove, in that an accurately calibrated prover bell is established asthe standard of comparison and the flow of air from this prover bell tothe meter under test is accurately controlled in an automatic manner soas to eliminate human error.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved gas meter prover apparatusof the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a lvertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken online 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the switch tripping elementswhich are associated with the bell of the meter prover apparatus of thisinvention.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the electrical wirearrangement of the improved gas meter prover apparatus of the presentinvention.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a scale and plate which are carried bythe prover bell of the apparatus of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a face portion of the front wall of thehousing of the control unit of the meter prover of this invention.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for purposes of illustration, merely,one embodiment of the invention, A designates in Fig. 1 the gas meterprover apparatus generally. The gas meter prover apparatus A comprises alower tank portion l and a bell 2 which is supported for verticalmovement with respect to said lower tank portion I, there being a bodyof water (not shown) contained in the lower tank portion I whose surfaceprovides the bottom wall of an air chamber within the bell. The bell 2has suitably attached r. to its upper portion, by means of attachingelements 3, a iiexible member 4, said flexible member being passed overa rotatably supported pulley 5 and having weights 6 attached to its freeend which serve to counterbalance the weight of the bell 2.

Forming a part of the gas meter prover apparatus A is a pipe assemblywhich includes a pipe 'i that communicates with the air chamber withinthe bell 2 and extends downwardly therefrom within the interior of thelower tank portion i of the prover, said pipe l extending through alower wall portion of the prover tank and extending upwardly at theexterior of the lower tank portion of the prover to a member 8.Connecting into the member 8 is a pipe 9 which leads from a source ofair (not shown), said pipe 9 being provided with a magnetic valve I3which, as will presently appear herein, controls the passage of air intothe air chamber of the prover bell 2. The pipe 9 is provided also with apressure regulator II which controls the pressure of the air that passesthrough said pipe 9 to the air chamber of the prover bell, andadditionally said pipe 9 is provided with a connection I2 which isadapted to lead to a pressure gauge (not shown).

Connected into the member 8 is a pipe I3 in which is interposed amagnetic valve I4, said magnetic valve I4 being connected to aconnection I into which is also connected a pipe I6 which leads to theinlet of a meter to be tested, said magnetic valve I4 serving to controlthe flow of air from the prover bell 2 to a meter being tested with theaid of the gas meter prover apparatus. Connected into the pipe I3 is apipe and fitting assembly I1, and connected into said pipe and ttingassembly I1 is a magnetic valve I8 which, as will presently appearherein, serves to control leveling of the prover bell 2 by venting airfrom said bell to atmosphere. Additionally the general pipe assembly ofthe gas meter prover apparatus includes a'pipe and fitting assembly I9which provides a by-pass around the magnetic valves I4 and I8, one endof said by-pass being connected into a fitting 2B which is connected inthe pipe 9, and the opposite end of said by-pass being connected intothe fitting I5 into which the magnetic valve I4 and the pipe I6 areconnected. The pipe and tting assembly I9 which provides the by-passaround the magnetic valves I4 and I8 has interposed therein a manuallyoperable valve 2| which, on actuation thereof, permits air to flow fromthe prover bell 2 to the meter being tested to allow for manual testingof the meter, if required, or to permit purging of the meter so as tobring the prover index dial hand of the meter to its starting position.If desired, the fitting I5 may have connected thereto a suitablethermometer 22, in order that the temperature of the air passing to themeter being tested may be indicated.

The improved gas meter prover apparatus of this invention includes acontrol unit B which comprises a housing 23 that is provided with lugs 23', said lugs serving to receive bolts which secure said housing 23 tovertically spaced bars 24 which are secured by U-bolts 25 to verticalelements 26 that are parts of the meter prover structure (Figs. 1 and2). Arranged within the housing 23 of the control unit are threeelectrical switches 21, 28, and 29 which serve to control the action ofthe gas meter prover of this invention. The switches 21 and 28 arefixedly mounted within the housing 23 of the control unit, while theswitch 29 is supported within said housing 23 for adjusting therein. Theswitches 21, 28, and 29 may be of any suitable type, although it hasbeen discovered that socalled precision limit switches function in theoperation of the meter prover of this invention in a highly efficientmanner. The adjustable switch 29 comprises a U-shaped carriage 39 whichis provided at its top with a block 3| through which an opening isformed longitudinally, a rod 32 being extended through said opening ofsaid block and said rod being supported at its opposite ends within thehousing at the upper rear portion thereof (Figs. 3 and 4). The block 3lis slidable longitudinally of the rod 32, the U-shaped carriage movingwith said block, and to effect adjustment of said block and carriage arack 33 is secured to the lower wall of the carriage which is engaged bya pinion 34. The pinion 34 is xedly mounted on a shaft 35 which issupported for rotation by the front wall of the housing 23 and by abearing 36 formed on the rear wall of said housing, the forward portionof said shaft being extended through and projected beyond the front wallof the housing 23 and said projected portion of said shaft havingfixedly mounted thereon a knob 31.

The electrical switch 29 is supported within the U-shaped carriage andit includes an actuating stem 29 which is supported by an element 38 forinward and outward sliding movement. The outer end of the actuating stem29' of the switch 29 is engaged by a substantially vertical portion of alever 39 which is of angular shape (Figs. 5 and 6), said lever beingsupported for pivotal movement by a pivot pin 40 which Vpasses throughopenings formed through opposed wall portions of said lever 39 and issupported at its opposite ends in openings formed through opposed wallportions of the U-shaped carriage 3B. rl`he substantially horizontalportion of the angular lever 39 is provided at its outer end with arearwardly projected extension 4I which serves a purpose to behereinafter set forth, and in this connection it is to be noted that therear wall of the housing 23 of the control unit B is provided with anopening 42 through Vwhich the extension 4I of the angular lever 39projects.

The electrical switch 28 of the control unit B is supported fixedlywithin the housing 23 by a bracket structure 43 which is secured to therear wall of said housing 23, said switch 28 being provided with anactuating stem 44 which operates the switch to its open and closedpositions. The outer end of the stem 44 is engaged by an angular level`45 which is similar to the angular lever 39 associated with theelectrical switch 29, as has been heretofore explained, said angularlever 45 being supported for pivotal movement with respect to thebracket structure 43 by a pivot element 46. Also, the substantiallyhorizontal portion of the angular lever 45 is provided with a rearwardlyprojected extension 41 which projects through an opening 48 formedthrough the rear wall of the housing 23 of the control unit B.

The electrical switch 21 which is mounted fixedly within the housing 23of the control unit B is secured to a side wall of said housing by meansof suitable fastening devices 49. 'The switch 21 is a limit switch andit functions to control the flow of air to the prover bell 2 prior to atest. In other words, when the incoming air has lled the prover bell soas to cause said bell to reach the limit of its upward movement, theswitch 21 is actuated to its open position whereby the magnetic valve I0will be deenergized and closed. The switch 21 includes an actuatingmember 21a which is provided with a roller 21h.

The bell 2 of the gas meter prover A is provided with a verticallydisposed scale 50 which is suitably ilxed thereto for movementtherewith, and this scale is provided with the usual graduations formedon scales of prover bells. In other words, the graduations on the scale50 include a Zero mark, and one, two, four, ve, eight and ten cubic feetmarks, if the bell is a standard ten cubic feet prover bell, andadditional cubic feet marks if it be a larger bell. Secured to the scale50 is a vertically `vdisposed plate 5| which is of tapered shape, usaidplate being of greater width at its top than at' its bottom, and thetapered shape of said plate 5| resulting from the fact that theright-hand 'edge 5| of the plate, as said plate is showninFig. l, isinclined downwardly and inwardly from top to bottom of the plate. Theplate 5| has secured thereto a plurality of abutment elements 52a, 52h,52e, 52d, 52e, 52)c and 52g, the abutment elements being respectivelylocated at the one, two, four, five, eight and ten feet marks on thescale 59. The abutment elements 52a, 52b, 52e, 52d, 52e, 52j and 52g arestill constructed as is shown in Fig. 7 wherein is illustrated one ofsaid abutment elements, that is to say, each of the abutment elementsincludes a base portion 53 from which an angular extension54is extendedoutwardly. Also, the base portion of each of the abutment elements isprovided with a vertical s'lot 55 through which the 'Shanks of a pair oiclamping screws 56 extend,'said slots permitting of the abutment elementbeing :adjusted relative to the plate 5| and the headsv of said clampingscrews engaging the abutmentl element so as to clamp it in the positionto ,which it is adjusted. Additionally, the plate 5| itself is providedwith a pair of vertical slots 51 through which the shanks of clampingscrews extend, said slots permitting the plate 5| to beadjustedvertically relative' to the scale 56 and the screws clamping said platein positions to whichv it has been adjusted. In addition to the abutmentelements 52a, 52h, 52C, 52d, 52e, 52f'and 52g mentioned above, the plate5| has secured thereto an abutment element 58 which serves, "in a mannerto be hereinafter explained, tofactuate the limit switch 21.

The front wall of the housing 23 of the con- .tiol unit B supports a`switch 59 and a switch -ogwhich serve purposes to be hereinafterdescribed. Additionally, said front wall of said housing 23 supports apilot light 8| which serves to indicate when electrical energy has beenturnd on, and a fuse 62 which serves an obvious purpose. Also, thehousing 23 has mounted thereon a relay housing 63 which receives a pairof relays that constitute parts of the apparatus of the presentinvention, and the shaft 35 associated with said housing 23 has mountedthereon a, disk 63 which is provided with a plurality .oilcircumferentially spaced notches which receive a projection 64' of aspring detent 64 so as to lock the shaft 35 in positions to which it hasbeen adjusted by rotation of the knob 31.

I-n describing the operation of the improved gas meter prover A of thepresent invention it will be assumed that electrical power is oi andthat the prover bell 2 is in its lowermost position with the meterprover A connected to a meter to be tested. Let it be assumed, also,

that it is'desired to pass two cubic feet of air lthrough the meterbeing tested in performing the test and that the knob 31 has beenrotated to the position where its indicator points to the numeral 2 ofthe group of numerals which appear on the front wall of the housing 23in embracing relation with respect to said knob 3i.

Such rotation of the knob 31 subjects the shaft 35 to rotation which istransmitted by the pinion cated at the two feet mark on the scale of theprover bell 2. Also, if it is desired `to pass more or less than twocubic feet of air through a meter being tested the knob 31 is rotated tothe proper position so as tovadjust the carriage 30 of the switch 29 andthereby position the extension 4| in vertical alinement with one of theother abutments which is located at the desired feet mark on the scale50 of the prover bell 2.

With the adjustment of the adjustable switch 29 properly made to causetwo cubic feet of air to pass through the meter being tested, theelectrical power is turned on by actuating the switch 59, and the switchis then actuated to the closed position. This completes a circuit to theair supply valve l0 through the contact 65a of a purge switch 65, relaycontacts 66, and the limit switch 21. The air supply valve I0 thenopens, admitting air from pressure line to the prover bell 2, and whenthe prover bell reaches its uppermost position the limit switch 21 isopened by the abutment 58 on the plate 5| associated with the scale 50of the prover bell 2, engaging the roller 21h of the actuating element21a. This breaks the circuit to the `air supply valve I0 and said airsupply valve closes, and the prover is now ready for a test.

The meter hand is driven to the proper starting point by manual use ofthe purge switch 65 and actuation of said purge switch causes thecontact 65a to open, thereby disabling the air supply valve circuit, andcauses the contact 65h of said purge rswitch to close so as to energizethe magnetic valve I4 and admit air to the meter as long as the purgeswitch is heldiin its depressed position. When the meter lhand reachesthe proper starting position the vpurge switch is released and thisopens the circuit to the magnetic valve |4 and re-establishe's thecircuit to the air supply valve l0, whereupon the prover bell 2 isrelled with air.

The actual test is initiated by depressing the start push button 15which energizes the start ing relay 61 through the reset push button 68and through the stop switch 29. When the start relay 51 is energizedstart relay contacts 69 close thereby sealing in the start relay 61around the start push button 66, and thev stait relay contacts 10 alsoclose thereby energizing the vent valve |8 through the contacts 1| ofthe test relay 12. Also, the contacts 6B of the start relay open,thereby disabling the air supply valve circuit so as to prevent the airsupply valve Ill ,l from opening as the bell moves away from the limitswitch 21. The prover bell 2 moves downwardly as the vent valve I8 ventsair therefrom, and when the bell drops to the zero point the switch 28closes and energizes the test relay 12. When the test relay is energizedthe test relay contacts 13 close thereby sealing in the test relayaround the switch 28, and test relay contacts 1| open so as todeenergize and close the vent valve I8. Also, when the test relay isenergized the test relay contacts 14 close, thereby energizing andopening the valve |4 to admit air to the meter under test. The test isnow under way and the prover bell 2 descends steadily and when said belldrops to the point where the appropriate abutment, the abutment 52e, forinstance, engages the extension 4| -of the angular lever 39 of theswitch 29, said switch 29 is opened so as to deenergize the start relay61. This causes the start relay contacts 10 to open thereby deenergizingand closing the valve I4 lso .as to stop the flow of air to the meterunder test, and deenergize the test relay, and causes the contacts 66 ofthe start relay to close thereby reenergizing the circuit of the airsupply valve l0 so as to cause the prover bell to be relled with air.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated diagrammatically the wiring R for a readerwhich is adapted to aid an operator in reading the dial of a meterbeing' tested with the aid of the improved meter prover of thisinvention. This wiring merely feeds elec- -trical energy to two lampsforming part of the reader structure and hence need not be described indetail herein.

I claim:

1. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable mem- .ber and adapted to be connectedto a meter to `be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed insaid piping and operable to control passage of testing medium from thechamber of said movable member to the meter being tested, an electricalswitch for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, aplurality of spaced abutments supported by said movable member andmovable therewith for actuating said switch, and means for adjustingsaid switch bodily to a position where it may be actuated by one oranother of said abutments.

2. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing `a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to ameter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in saidpiping and operable to control passage of testing medium from thechamber of said movable member to the meter being tested, an electricalswitch for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, aplurality of spaced abutments supported `by said movable member andmovable therewith for actuating said switch, and means for adjustingsaid switch to a position where it may be actuated by one or another ofsaid abutments, said adjusting means including a knob which is rotatableto diierent positions to effect adjustment of said switch.

3. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to ameter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in saidpiping and operable to control passage of testing medium from thechamber of said mov-v able member to the meter being tested, anelectrical switch for controlling actuation of said electricallyactuated valve, a. plurality of spaced abutments supported by saidmovable member and movable therewith for actuating said switch, andmeans for adjusting said switch to a position where it maybe actuated byone or another of said abutments, said adjusting means including a knobwhich is rotatable to different positions relative to a dial to eiectadjustment of said switch.

4. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable member Vand adapted to be connected toa meter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in saidpiping and operable to control passage of testing medium from thechamber of said movable member to the meter being tested, an electricalswitch for controlling actuation of ksaid electrically actuated valve, aplurality of spaced abutments supported by said movable member andmovable therewith for actuating said switch, and means for adjustingsaid switch to a position where it may be actuated by one or another ofsaid abutments, said adjusting means comprising a slidably supportedcarriage which supports said switch, and means for subjecting saidcarriage to sliding movement.

5. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to ameter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in saidpiping and operable to control passage oi testing medium from thechamber of said movable member to the meter being tested, an electricalswitch for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, aplurality of spaced abutments supported by said movable member andmovable therewith for actuating said switch, VAand means for adjustingsaid switch to a position where it may be actuated by one or another oisaid abutments, said adjusting means comprising a slidably supportedcarriage which supports said switch, and means including a rack andpinion for subjecting said carriage to sliding movement. i

6. A meter testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movablemember providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, piping leadingfrom the chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to ameter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in saidpiping and operable to control passage of testing medium from thechamber of said movable member to the meter being tested, an electricalswitch for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, aplurality of spaced abutments supported by said movable member andmovable therewith for actuating said switch, and means for adjustingsaid switch to a position where it may be actuated by one or another ofsaid abutments, said adjusting means comprising a slidably supportedcarriage which supports said switch, and means including a rack mountedon said carriage and a pinion mounted on a shaft and meshing with saidrack for subjecting said carriage to sliding movement, said shaft beingprovided with a knob for rotating said shaft and said knob beingprovided with indicating means which is rotated with said knob relativeto a dial so as to indicate proper positioning of said switch.

- PHILIP R. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 528,547 Marshall Nov. 6, 18941,505,699 Clancy et al Aug. 19, 1924 1,934,291 Baas Nov. '7, 19332,448,616 Oakley et al. Sept. '7, 1948

